Morning Bell: Remembering 9/11 – Never Quit

Today, we join America in honoring the anniversary of September 11, 2001, when terrorists killed nearly 3,000 of our fellow citizens. In the days after 9/11, Americans stood together as one, setting aside partisan fervor and recognized a common enemy in Islamist terrorist groups, particularly al-Qaeda. National security was rightfully restored as our nation’s highest priority.

Ten years later, Osama bin Laden is dead, delivering to victims’ families and the rest of America a bit of justice for the heinous acts we all witnessed. But one terrorist’s death does not justify returning to the national security mindset that existed prior to that day.

As Thomas Paine said, “Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it.”

That notion is ever true. Thanks to important policies put into place after 9/11, America has been able to thwart at least 41 publicly known terrorist attacks. Such vigilance saved lives and will continue to do so moving forth. As Heritage’s Matt Mayer wrote days after bin Laden’s death:

In terrorist hideouts across the globe, many men with similarly warped views are eager to become the next bin Laden. They know the path to that title [lies] in successfully attacking us domestically and causing substantial death and destruction.

The global war on terror that began as a result of 9/11 continues, and brave men and women risk their lives daily to protect America and prevent future acts of terrorism. As soldiers return from Afghanistan and Iraq after third or fourth tours of duty, we’re reminded that a clear and present danger remains.

…the policy established by the debt ceiling law will strip the military of its ability to secure the vital interests of the United States. The law, unless it is altered or repealed, will do irreparable harm to the United States military.

… History has repeatedly shown that these kinds of reductions in defense are penny wise and pound foolish, because they often serve to increase the likelihood of conflict. And weakness that invites war is much more expensive than deterring our enemies by maintaining an adequate defense budget all along.

Without the necessary security, America’s position as a world superpower will begin to decline. And still, President Obama and congressional liberals press on, putting our national security in jeopardy. Defense spending is far below its historical average, while money spent on unsustainable entitlement programs eats up two-thirds of the federal budget. America’s budgetary priorities are badly mismanaged, and our readiness suffers as a result.

No military service has been immune from wear and tear over 10 years of constant combat and other operations. According to General Marine Corps General Joseph Dunford, Jr., two-thirds of non-deployed Marines are not at acceptable readiness levels. This means they’re unable to respond to unforeseen crises if needed.

America’s military requires the ability to respond forcefully and effectively, and it relies on Congress and the President to provide the necessary resources.

As Abraham Lincoln said in the Gettysburg Address, “It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced.”

On this, the 10-year anniversary of 9/11, it’s important to honor the victims and the heroes of that day by not only remaining on guard, but promising we will never quit this important fight until the threat no longer exists.

We ask Americans to join us in a display of unity once again. Today, we hope that every neighborhood across the nation is flooded with American flags celebrating the lives of those we lost in New York, Virginia and Pennsylvania and the heroism we witnessed, while also reminding each other that the fight to prevent another attack is not over.

Please visit The Foundry to read our special page Remembering 9/11: Never Quit, where we feature articles from special guests who have shared with us their thoughts on this day. On Twitter, send us pictures of your flag flying by using the hashtag #Flag911 in your tweet to offer your own remembrances and encourage others to join with us.

We must remember how we stood as a nation with a shared purpose and intensity on September 12, 2001, and in the days following. That collective and eternal vigilance is still essential. Never quit.

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common DEFENSE, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

The very first words of our constution mandate providing for our defense, yet the administration is abandoning this obligation along with other provisions in order to promote a social welfare state, promote multiculturalism and rule by regulation instead of law..

Bremmer on Fox said it best, because America went after the Al Queda, 10 years later the Dictators, Tyrants, and warlords, are on the run, with countries fighting for Freedom, after 300 years of persecution! Plus American's inventing the tools to subdue, and eliminate terrorists! We owe it all to our young warriors, our military, not politicians, not heads of state, but our Navy, Marines, Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, they along with guns bring freedom and peace to people's of the world, they also keep the commerce moving around the globe, and without our military means no aid to the helpless anywhere!

Its past time for the US to get out of 2 countries where we are not wanted or appreciated,and we can still be strong ,strenghten our borders,diminish the TSA,but obviously be vigilant, and not PC about watching 80 year old grandmothers rather than young dark potential suspects.There may be some others that slip thru the net,but thats lif 100% coverage of the world is ridiculous and unaffordable,and a impairment to
the open life style we can have and made this country great

In your quote from Thomas Paine “Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it.”; raises and interesting question. What does "supporting it" mean? If Thomas Paine were alive today, what would he assert is necessary for a citizenry to be sufficiently activist.

For us to fulfill the promise of the country that our forefathers envisioned, how much commitment is needed by how many people and in what forms? Would everyone need to commit 2% of their time or money each month? Would 20,000 need to commit their entire working lives?

In particular, what does at least one in ten of us, absolutely need to do? How will Heritage communicate and inspire the need to do it, until it is done? What is the current collective health and fitness of our citizenship? Are we in need of a new workout regimen, a weight-loss program, a cholesterol medication? Or are we in need of a MASH triage unit?

Clergy, 9/11 first responders, and 9/11 family members are barred and/or not invited to the official WTC ceremonies. White House guidelines forbid official 9/11 ceremonies from mentioning who attacked the U.S. on that day or why.

So sad that they are also now in these United States, heading the DOJ, and in the White House itself… This is how far left this nation has moved in ten years … This is a testimony of how we have turned our back on our GOD, The GOD of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob…. GOD help us and give us a President who loves GOD, and is a fearless Patriot who protects the freedoms we Judeo-Christian Americans hold so dear.
GOD BLESS AMERICA AND ALL WHO DEFEND HER !

BigSkyCountry; thank you for the blog on this subject. Too many people, and they are growing in number, are kowtowing to the athieists and communistic liberals who want to change this Nation into something our founders (and we) never imagined. We were delighted to attend a show by Mr. Pat Boone last evening. He spells it out without mincing words; his love of God, life, family, freedom, and those who have defended our country and continue to do. This is a God-Fearing man and a true inspiration; he concluded his performance with several older and one new Gospel song he had just penned but not yet recorded. May God Bless and Keep him with all his other children.

The problem is that there are far to many in this government and civilians that never served in the military that are willing to throw in the towel and quit. And by all means cut the military if it means more social programs for those that are unwilling to support themselves. It seems the "me first" syndrome is sweeping the country and to hell with the consequences. The 9/11 ceremony is a prime example of what's going on in this country, you hear them tell you that they will never forget, but hell they already forgot the this was an act of war against the American people. Community service is not going to win over the terrorist and alter their goal.

This dispicable act of hatred shows what America is about and can do. We can unite and turn an act of hatred into a show of love to the world and ourselves. The new Trade Center is a beautiful reminder of Amerian Siprit and Americans and what we are about. We can turn a act of hate into a show of love.

not just the president want this but all the rest who are in power behind
what we see. want the freedoms we enjoy destroyed all the big defense
company's want THe U.S. to always be at war better profits . The whole
profits from people of different opinion thus the need for lobbist it all a
big show what a circus we have become

I knew the debt ceiling link to Military spending would be in this article somewhere.The GOP can't possibly separate itself from it's link to BIG SPENDING to the MILITARY INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX. Had we not gone into two massive wars and used that funding in other specific ways I wonder where we'd be now. SInce the GOP is constantly pushing a Corporatist agenda, any topic / issue that might limit payments for government military contracts will be demonized. Of course the GOP hates BIG Government, but they love BIG Government Military Contracts and BIG Government Subsidies to BIG Oil etc. . .

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